Arsenal sporting director Edu made it clear last year that he was keen to move on high-earning players who were underperforming – just like ex-record signing Nicolas Pepe
Arsenal have parted ways with Nicolas Pepe after agreeing to terminate the winger’s contract – four years after signing him for a then-record £72million fee.
Pepe, 28, arrived at the Emirates to palpable excitement in the summer of 2019 after tearing up Ligue 1 with Lille, but he struggled to make any sort of impact in the Premier League.
Pepe has become an increasingly peripheral figure at the club and spent last season on loan at OGC Nice. Whilst Pepe was free to leave the Gunners for good this summer, a transfer failed to materialise before the English transfer window shut last week. However, he has now completed a move elsewhere after tearing up the final year of his contract.
The winger has officially linked up with Trabzonspor, signing a one-year contract with the option for a further year. And while the Turkish club have landed Pepe without paying a transfer fee, Arsenal have taken a financial hit after reaching an agreement for the forward to leave the club 12 months early.